Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Louisa V. Miller
(American, 1837 - 1854)
Date1847
MediumEmbroidery; wool thread on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 16 3/8 x 17 1/2in. (41.6 x 44.5cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of the heirs of Morgan B. Brainard
Object number1961.12.39
DescriptionSampler worked in red, dark green, medium green, black, light blue, dark blue, medium blue, dark browns, orange, white, yellow and gray wool threads on a plain-weaven linen ground using cross over two threads, tent and other stitches. The sampler is squarish, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with four rows of three alphabets, over a wide horizontal band featuring a landscape, over an inscription on the bottom. The inscription is "Wrought by Louisa V Miller in the 10th year of her age/ 1847". The landscape scene has foreground, midground and background, and includes, from left to right, a mallard duck, a tree, a three story building with center door, a two-story building with center door, a bird atop a tree, a large church, a rose bush, a tree and a smallish two-story building with center door. The first two buildings have fences in front of them. The large church is in the gothic revival style, with pointed arched windows and a crenellated roof line. The lines of alphabets are separated by straight horizontal lines. There is a wide four-sided border of a meandering vine and flowers or berries.
The sampler has a 2/16-inch double-turned hem on the top and bottom edges, and selvedges on both sides. It is not framed or mounted.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letters J and U are present in all alphabets. The ampersand is repeated twice after the first alphabet. Alphabet 3 ends at the letter "y". All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The principal stitches on the sampler are cross over two and tent; it also includes satin, back, herringbone and cross (over one) stitches.
Condition: The sampler has minimal to light fading. The ground has darkened, especially on the top edge. It has uneven nail holes along all four edges. It is not framed or mounted.
The sampler has a 2/16-inch double-turned hem on the top and bottom edges, and selvedges on both sides. It is not framed or mounted.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets. The letters are uppercase script in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2, and lowercase block in alphabet 3. The letters J and U are present in all alphabets. The ampersand is repeated twice after the first alphabet. Alphabet 3 ends at the letter "y". All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The principal stitches on the sampler are cross over two and tent; it also includes satin, back, herringbone and cross (over one) stitches.
Condition: The sampler has minimal to light fading. The ground has darkened, especially on the top edge. It has uneven nail holes along all four edges. It is not framed or mounted.
Status
Not on view
